One-Man Stand

UNC Walk for Health

features “One-Man Stand”

5th annual healthy walking event to

raise awareness of the Union Soldier

April 9, 1865

Confederate General Robert E. Lee officially

surrenders to Union General Ulysses S. Grant

Appomattox Court House, Virginia

“It would be useless and therefore cruel,” Robert E. Lee remarked on the morning of April 9, 1865, “to provoke the further effusion of blood, and I have arranged to meet with General Grant with a view to surrender.”

The two generals met shortly after noon on April 9, 1865, at the home of Wilmer McLean in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Lee’s surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of all United States forces, hastened the conclusion of the Civil War.

WHO: Donning a Union Soldier uniform, William Thorpe, Founder and Director of UNC Walk for Health, has been standing guard at McCorkle Place every Thursday at noon for 30 minutes to dramatize and resurrect the image of the Union Soldier. This 105-day semester-long educational campaign (one day for each year of Silent Sam’s existence) began January 24th and will continue until May 9th. UNC Walk for Health seeks to replace Silent Sam with the image of the Union Soldier and with plaques stating the official mission of the University.

WHAT: On Day 70 (Thursday, April 4th) of the campaign, UNC Walk for Health will host a special “One-Man Stand” dramatization and musical tribute to the Union Soldier and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Note: The UNC Gospel Choir will perform.

WHEN:12:00pm to 12:30pm on April 4th (Date of Dr. King’s assassination)

WHERE: The musical tribute will begin at the Peace and Justice Plaza on Franklin Street and end at the Old Well.

WHY: UNC Walk for Health humbly submits a question to University officials, “Where is the monument on this campus for the image of the Union Soldier? The Union Soldier demonstrated remarkable patriotism, valor, morality, and is the best representation of the University’s motto – lux, libertas – light and liberty.”

“True peace is not merely the absence of some negative force, it is the presence of justice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“True peace at UNC is not merely the absence of Silent Sam, it is the presence of the image of the Union Soldier.” – William Thorpe